Carlos Alcaraz aiming for ‘Novak Djokovic-like’ consistency to boost ATP Finals chances ahead of Andrey Rublev match

Carlos Alcaraz has revealed what quality he hopes to copy from Novak Djokovic as he looks to get his first win at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Alcaraz is looking for improvements against Andrey Rublev on Wednesday – and will be aiming to follow Djokovic’s lead on one particular aspect.

“At the end of the second set and the start of the third [against Zverev], I hit three or four shots out straight away. That can’t happen, although everyone has their own style.

“I watch Novak, for example, and he doesn’t give anything away straight away. My consistency was really lacking against Zverev.”

Alcaraz came into the tournament on the back of a surprise loss to qualifier Roman Safiullin at the Paris Masters.

He also had injury issues that forced him out of the Swiss Indoors, and suggested he might be suffering from “mental fatigue” after the demands of a long season.

“I’ve been training pretty well, feeling good,” he said.

“I was feeling good physically and still am, but after the defeat I don’t feel good in terms of my tennis level.

“It’s been a long and demanding year. I have to improve to get to this point of the season in better conditions, above all mentally. It’s probably mental fatigue. If I want to win this tournament…I have to get to this point of the year relaxed with a desire to win everything that is put in front of me.

“At least I know exactly what is happening and what I have to improve on. I will have to get to work. I’m getting increasingly better at facing this kind of player, and even more so here, where every match could be a Grand Slam final.”

Alcaraz also appeared unhappy with the speed of the courts in Turin.

“This surface is the fastest of the year for sure. I don’t know why they put this kind of surface at the end of the year, because all the surfaces we have played during the year on hard court are so slow, and then, we come here and they put this court so, so fast and I don’t know why.

“I am not going to say that they should play the tournament outdoor or indoor, I don’t understand of the speed of the service. We never played in a surface like this in the year.”

Alcaraz went into his match against Zverev knowing his chances of year-end No. 1 were gone after Djokovic beat Holger Rune on the opening night.

He looked set to challenge Djokovic for the year-end No. 1 but went 5-3 after the US Open to hamper his chances.

“He deserved it,” said Alcaraz about Djokovic.

“He has won three Grand Slams and reached the final of the fourth one. He won three or four Masters 1000, he deserves to end the year as No. 1.”